Björk

[Mirror Image]

One thing that I continue to admire about Bjork, besides her constant evolution, is the fact that she gives her music a completely free creative license. Her songs aren't 'written in stone' and her live performances are testimony to this fact. There are no limits or constraints in her music.

A great documentary -

http://www.youtube.com/v/If9UMQKVIWQ

[Mirror Image]

Also, name one well-known 'pop' vocalist that would include this short instrumental interlude as a lead-in to another song (Aurora):

http://www.youtube.com/v/-7lEE3eP5-0

BTW, 71 dB, name one well-known pop vocalist that uses a harp as part of her sound-world? Name a well-known pop vocalist that uses a saxophone quartet? Name a well-known pop vocalist that uses an Inuit throat choir in conjunction with a full-piece orchestra set alongside two electronic programmers?

You certainly don't have to like her music and I wouldn't care if you did or you didn't, but there's nothing 'banal' about her music or at least from Debut up to Vespertine as I don't know her other two studio albums too well. You like a few songs well that's great, but you seem like you remain unenthusiastic about a lot of the music that you're hearing, which is fine of course. But I like Bjork for the reasons I detailed earlier as you like who you like for reasons that are specific to your own tastes. Of course, Bjork has nothing to prove to anyone as she's been one of the most constantly creative musicians in alternative music for many years.

[Mirror Image]

Let's do some comparisons:

Here's a song from Ke$ha who 71 dB apparently likes a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/v/QR_qa3Ohwls

Here's a song from Bjork who I apparently like a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Wp6tAcjq0N0

[jut1972]

I can see the attraction.  With the sound down of course.

[71 dB]

You have to remember one thing: 71 dB is a fan of Ke$ha. That's all that needs to be said.

Yes, I definitely am. Ke$ha is the kind of artist who seems talentless moron before you know/understand what she really is and what she is doing. Ke$ha is extraordinary. I like Katy Perry too, but not as much as Ke$ha.

What is Ke$ha doing? She disguises art as silly pop songs to make people happy, to be themselves as they are.

Let's do some comparisons:

Here's a song from Ke$ha who 71 dB apparently likes a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/v/QR_qa3Ohwls

Here's a song from Bjork who I apparently like a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Wp6tAcjq0N0

I like both of these tracks a lot. 'Pagan Poetry' is the kind of Björk I really like and 'Your Love is my Drug' is solid Ke$ha. 

Ke$ha is much more versatile artist than the masses know because the record company only allows her to release certain kind of "party" songs as singles + music videos. Ke$ha is also this:

http://youtu.be/d9ko3i3r3RA

and this:

http://youtu.be/Fe3QGy7eTb8

(sorry, I didn't get the flash working,..)

[71 dB]

Also, name one well-known 'pop' vocalist that would include this short instrumental interlude as a lead-in to another song (Aurora):

http://www.youtube.com/v/-7lEE3eP5-0

BTW, 71 dB, name one well-known pop vocalist that uses a harp as part of her sound-world? Name a well-known pop vocalist that uses a saxophone quartet? Name a well-known pop vocalist that uses an Inuit throat choir in conjunction with a full-piece orchestra set alongside two electronic programmers?

You certainly don't have to like her music and I wouldn't care if you did or you didn't, but there's nothing 'banal' about her music or at least from Debut up to Vespertine as I don't know her other two studio albums too well. You like a few songs well that's great, but you seem like you remain unenthusiastic about a lot of the music that you're hearing, which is fine of course. But I like Bjork for the reasons I detailed earlier as you like who you like for reasons that are specific to your own tastes. Of course, Bjork has nothing to prove to anyone as she's been one of the most constantly creative musicians in alternative music for many years.

I can't. It doesn't matter what Björk or other artist use. Sometimes I like Björk and sometimes it's overdone or something, I don't know. 'Pagan 'Poetry' and 'Hyper-ballad' are great but 'Human Behavior' and 'Army of Me' I find boring and so on...

I'm not against YOU or YOUR taste. Björk is a damn good artist to like! 

Btw, Björk is 48, Ke$ha is 26. Björk has had two decades more time to use harps and Kronos quartets on her music. Ke$ha is still fighting for her creative freedom.

[Mirror Image]

Btw, Björk is 48, Ke$ha is 26. Björk has had two decades more time to use harps and Kronos quartets on her music. Ke$ha is still fighting for her creative freedom.

Ah, but the age gap isn't much of a problem at all. Do you know what Bjork was doing at 26? She sang and collaborated with avant-garde punk bands and jazz fusion groups. She was continuously going against the mainstream as any good musician would do and challenging the status quo. Ke$ha sings Top 40 Radio, homogenized pap and/or whatever her record company makes her sing. She's not a true musician IMHO and actually quite far from it. As I pointed out, I don't care if you like or dislike Bjork, but I think it's completely relevant that we know who you listen to, and what your tastes are, when you make any kind of criticism against Bjork's music.

[71 dB]

Do you know what Bjork was doing at 26? She sang and collaborated with avant-garde punk bands and jazz fusion groups.

Good for her! Ke$ha has collaborated with Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips and Alice Cooper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PThwR-5knf4

She was continuously going against the mainstream as any good musician would do and challenging the status quo. Ke$ha sings Top 40 Radio, homogenized pop and/or whatever her record company makes her sing.

Björk established herself decades ago when it was a different world. Ke$ha needs to fight for her creative freedom a lot more. Ke$ha's singles are targeted to top 40 but she has a lot of stuff that is not top 40 (just listen to the links!). Björk has "top 40" songs too, especially in her "Debut" era. 'Human Behaviour' was heavily played on MTV 20 years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrC1u_fH8m8

Not so top 40...

She's not a true musician IMHO and actually quite far from it.

Really? Ke$ha writes her songs (and has wrote about 250 songs already, dozens of unreleased ones available on youtube as demo versions or sold to other artists. Ke$ha has been called "female Bob Dylan") , is a good singer, is said to play 20 different instruments and has invented "cock pop" music genre. Not a true musician? Really?

As I pointed out, I don't care if you like or dislike Bjork, but I think it's completely relevant that we know who you listen to, and what your tastes are, when you make any kind of criticism against Bjork's music.

To me both Björk and Ke$ha are extraordinary musicians. I think you misundertood my opinion about Björk. I have clearly said I like 'Hyper-ballad' and 'Pagan Poetry'. I don't care about all Ke$ha's songs either.

[Mirror Image]

Good for her! Ke$ha has collaborated with Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips and Alice Cooper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PThwR-5knf4

Björk established herself decades ago when it was a different world. Ke$ha needs to fight for her creative freedom a lot more. Ke$ha's singles are targeted to top 40 but she has a lot of stuff that is not top 40 (just listen to the links!). Björk has "top 40" songs too, especially in her "Debut" era. 'Human Behaviour' was heavily played on MTV 20 years ago.

Actually, the world isn't so different than it was when Bjork's Debut hit the record stores back in 1993. Musicians still struggled as much then as they do now. True the marketing and technology has changed but the struggle is still very much the same. Bjork's 'Top 40' songs don't sound like 'Top 40' songs because she has such an individual stamp on the music that there was no mistake who wrote the music. I mean listen to the electronic dissonance in Crying for example. Even in music written in a more popular style, she was still throwing curve balls to the listener.

BTW, that link you provided was horrible.

Really? Ke$ha writes her songs (and has wrote about 250 songs already, dozens of unreleased ones available on youtube as demo versions or sold to other artists. Ke$ha has been called "female Bob Dylan") , is a good singer, is said to play 20 different instruments and has invented "cock pop" music genre. Not a true musician? Really?

She could have written 1,000 songs, this wouldn't change my view of her one bit. For me, quality over quantity is always preferred. Ke$ha may write her own music, but this doesn't mean it's compelling in any way. I find her music quite the opposite actually.

To me both Björk and Ke$ha are extraordinary musicians. I think you misundertood my opinion about Björk. I have clearly said I like 'Hyper-ballad' and 'Pagan Poetry'. I don't care about all Ke$ha's songs either.

Again, it wouldn't matter to me whether you liked or disliked Bjork. My point is it's important to note her musicianship which I'm glad you finally did. I don't like every song Bjork wrote either. Her newer material isn't up to par with her earlier work, but that's a topic for another day.

[Mirror Image]

I can see the attraction.  With the sound down of course.

Sure, I mean she's quite attractive, but that's about all she has going for her.

[71 dB]

BTW, that link you provided was horrible.

I agree, but it was to show Ke$ha is much more than top 40 hits and she collaborates. Sure you understand that clip was recorded with a cellphone from the audience?

She could have written 1,000 songs, this wouldn't change my view of her one bit. For me, quality over quantity is always preferred. Ke$ha may write her own music, but this doesn't mean it's compelling in any way. I find her music quite the opposite actually.

It's compelling to me and that's enough for me. Ke$ha is a megatalent and we have only seen the beginning of her creativity. You want me to appreciate Björk, but you are not willing to get into Ke$ha, to understand what an extraordinary person she is.

Saying nothing changes your view doesn't make you clever. It makes you stubborn.

Again, it wouldn't matter to me whether you liked or disliked Bjork. My point is it's important to note her musicianship which I'm glad you finally did. I don't like every song Bjork wrote either. Her newer material isn't up to par with her earlier work, but that's a topic for another day.

Finally? I liked 'Hyper-ballad' in 1995 and 'Pagan Poetry' in 2005. How about you? 

[Mirror Image]

I agree, but it was to show Ke$ha is much more than top 40 hits and she collaborates. Sure you understand that clip was recorded with a cellphone from the audience?

It still would have been a horrid experience whether it had good or bad audio. The music just does nothing for me.

It's compelling to me and that's enough for me. Ke$ha is a megatalent and we have only seen the beginning of her creativity. You want me to appreciate Björk, but you are not willing to get into Ke$ha, to understand what an extraordinary person she is.

I think you've got one thing wrong: I don't want you to appreciate Bjork. Again, I could careless if you liked or disliked Bjork. I don't think Ke$ha is extraordinary at all. You may think she is but I heartily disagree. She's whatever the record label says she'll be and that's all there is to it.

Saying nothing changes your view doesn't make you clever. It makes you stubborn.

Saying nothing will change my view doesn't make me stubborn, it makes me real and honest. Again, I don't think Ke$ha is a creative musician at all. Even if she had complete artistic freedom, she'd be churning out the same old, boring pap that she has already done previously.

Finally? I liked 'Hyper-ballad' in 1995 and 'Pagan Poetry' in 2005. How about you? 

Well, I'm late getting into Bjork at serious level but I have known of her and several of her songs all the way back to 1993's Debut. So that's 21 years to you and me.

[71 dB]

The music just does nothing for me.

I don't think Ke$ha is extraordinary at all.

I don't think Ke$ha is a creative musician at all. Even if she had complete artistic freedom, she'd be churning out the same old, boring pap that she has already done previously.

You have an image of Ke$ha and you are not willing to relate yourself with that image. One part of that is "why is she using dollar sign in her name?", right?

I have demostrated you Ke$ha is much more than top 40 hits. I have told you she has tons of songs. I have told she is fighting for her creative freedom.

You are not alone with your opinions. Ke$ha is hated by many. People are not willing to understand her.

She is also deeply loved and admired by her fans. She is a huge inspiration to many. Her inspiration has prevented suicides. No other artist respects her/his fans more than Ke$ha.

You mentioned Ke$ha in this thread for the first time. You did it to discredit her and my taste. I think you are afraid there COULD be a Ke$ha song you actually like. I have read people confessing how ashamed they are for having hated Ke$ha before they knew how awesome she is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Z_Fls4y3k&feature=kp

[Mirror Image]

You have an image of Ke$ha and you are not willing to relate yourself with that image. One part of that is "why is she using dollar sign in her name?", right?

I have demostrated you Ke$ha is much more than top 40 hits. I have told you she has tons of songs. I have told she is fighting for her creative freedom.

You are not alone with your opinions. Ke$ha is hated by many. People are not willing to understand her.

She is also deeply loved and admired by her fans. She is a huge inspiration to many. Her inspiration has prevented suicides. No other artist respects her/his fans more than Ke$ha.

You mentioned Ke$ha in this thread for the first time. You did it to discredit her and my taste. I think you are afraid there COULD be a Ke$ha song you actually like. I have read people confessing how ashamed they are for having hated Ke$ha before they knew how awesome she is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Z_Fls4y3k&feature=kp

I could careless why she uses the $ sign in her name and also, make no mistake, I don't like her music and I don't see myself ever enjoying it. I'm not afraid of liking anything. I gave my honest opinion of what I think about her music and the reason I brought her up is that she represents the side of the pop music coin that I dislike and Bjork represents the side of the coin that I actually do like. You like her, that's great, but don't expect anyone else to. I'm just glad I met other Bjork fans on this forum, which is apart of my purpose for creating this thread.

Speaking of Bjork...let's get back to her music, shall we?

Giving Volta a spin for the first time:



I thought Earth Intruders was just strange. Wanderlust is closer to my liking. Again, the electronica elements are intact, but there's something else on going here. Something a bit more disturbing and edgier.

[Mirror Image]

I sort of liked The Dull Flame of Desire. I was a bit put-off initially by the male vocalist, but I warmed up to it as the song progressed. I absolutely hated Innocence. I See Who You Are has some interesting textures. I've heard Vertebrae By Vertebrae before and I enjoy it because of it's dissonance. Still, finishing up the album...

[Mirror Image]

Okay, I can definitely say I enjoyed most of Volta. This isn't a bad album at all. Of course, I really disliked Innocence. I also didn't like Declare Independence. I thought Hope was a very interesting song with it's Indian influence. Something I've not quite heard in Bjork before. Again, she continues to push herself in new directions and even though Volta wasn't a 'groundbreaking' album for her, it did introduce some new elements to her ever-expansive musical universe.

[Mirror Image]

Listening to Volta again. It's even better the second time, but still don't like the afore mentioned songs. The Dull Flame of Desire sounded even more fantastic to me this time around. I love the tribal, almost ritualistic sound-world this song inhabits. I can see how this recording would put-off some listeners at first, but I think this one of those albums that grows on you. There's a lot of beauty to be found here, but it's beauty in a much more rawer musical light.

[TheGSMoeller]

Listening to Volta again. It's even better the second time, but still don't like the afore mentioned songs. The Dull Flame of Desire sounded even more fantastic to me this time around. I love the tribal, almost ritualistic sound-world this song inhabits. I can see how this recording would put-off some listeners at first, but I think this one of those albums that grows on you. There's a lot of beauty to be found here, but it's beauty in a much more rawer musical light.

Flame of Desire features Antony Hegarty from Antony and the Johnsons. It's a great song, and Antony and Bjork sound great together. She ended up singing on one of Antony's albums too.

[Mirror Image]

Flame of Desire features Antony Hegarty from Antony and the Johnsons. It's a great song, and Antony and Bjork sound great together. She ended up singing on one of Antony's albums too.

They do sound great together. There's so much Bjorkian goodness to be found on Volta.

[Mirror Image]

I still need to listen to Selmasongs. I'm not sure why I skipped over it, but I'll give it a spin tomorrow. Just got through listening to Homogenic, now listening to Volta again. It just gets better and better. I also purposely have been skipping over Medulla. I just have a lot of doubt about this album. Also, I'm holding Biophilia in my hands, so this one will definitely get a spin soon as well.